Chapter 18

The real Itachi who never left the Scorpio was watching the sunset on the shore, he had seen the Marines take off a few minutes before.

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You are now the Enemy of the World Government – 2, 000

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'Last time it was only the Marines, now it the World Government... Did Smoker report to Headquarters?'

He couldn't tell whether that was a good or bad thing. All he knows is that the current World Government needs to come down if he needs to create a place like Konoha that deserves his protection.

That was all in the future, there was no need to rush it. One step at a time, he would reach the required destination eventually.

'Guns might be fast, but there aren't fast as the Uchiha's shuriken justu... Even so I can't look down at it. If it is used by a formidable opponent then it will be extremely hard to fight against.'

Itachi knew that the person holding the object is the one who would turn it into a deadly weapon. Even a small neck knife was able to beat someone with three swords.

"You are late."

He looked at Kisame who just boarded the Scorpio. His face was a little indifferent than his usually self, he looked tired more than anything.

"I ended up taking attention from a bothersome group." Kisame took a seat next to Itachi.

"Bothersome group?"

"Yes, there are a group of pirate hunters who call themselves Baroque Works." Kisame said with a more laden expression. He took a pause before continuing, "They must have seen us beating the Marines and assumed that we have bounties on our heads."

"I see."

"Not only that but I have found out something interesting." Hoshigaki sadistically grins and his partner immediately knew something was up.

"They rank themselves by numbers and days of the week. The smaller the number, the higher the rank in Baroque Works."

"Someone with the code name Zero is the leader... I assume."

"That's quite impressive, Itachi." It wasn't really shocking that the Uchiha was good at understanding things.

"Yes, Mr. Zero is indeed their leader and do you know who this Mr. Zero is?"

"Crocodile."

Kisame raised a brow as he had to spend the whole day looking for Mr. Zero's origins. He used his clone to tail Mr. 2's carriage, where Mr. 3 was hiding in the back. This was why he was a little gloomy than usual.

Itachi continued, "He has some of his agents working for the rebel army that is preparing attack plans in the Capital." He turned his head over to look at Alabasta, "By the looks of it, he seems to be planning to do something big... My guess, he is aiming to destroy the whole Kingdom."

Kisame raised his brow, only a few members of the Akatsuki would match that kind of strength, but little did he know that it was a bomb instead, no it didn't even cross his mind.

"Are we going to play hero and stop him, eh Itachi?"

The man in question stood up and slowly walked to his room, as now the sun had sunk, "That's not really my whole plan. We will set sail for Rainbase tomorrow morning, for now get some sleep and recover your chakra."

Kisame nodded he didn't have a problem with Itachi's words. Following Mr. 2's cart had taken a lot of his chakra, such a simple act wouldn't be much of a problem for someone like him in the Hidden Villages.

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The sea separates Alubarna the Capital of Alabasta and Rainbase, the City of Dreams which is also Crocodile's base. Itachi and Kisame plan to travel NorthWest to Rainbase, which is a few kilometer away from the nearest port.

There were currently in Nonoha the Port City which is South of Alubarna and West to Rebel Army main Base in Katorea, which is being led by Koza, Vivi's childhood friend.

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The sun sets and rises. Two days passed for the Scorpio to finally reach the port in Rainbase. Smoker and his Marines had arrived a few hours before, Tashigi had woken up the day before from Itachi's genjustu.

The two Marines were having breakfast in a restaurant when two familiar figures walked in from the back.

"Wadha!! (Water)" A long nose shouted with his chin pulled down and tongue wiggling around from the heat.

"Hooray!! Water!!" The captain shouted with both his hands in the air from excitement. 

Tashigi who had a glass of water in her hand looked over to her boss, "Why Rainbase, Captain Smoker. I would prefer it better if we stayed to capture Itachi and Kisame."

What the Uchiha had done to her was printed in Tashigi's mind. She spent the whole day in a vegetative state, unable to move. It was like she lost her eye glasses while wearing them.

Smoker had his head laying in his palm and clutched a cup of beer in the other hand, "Call it a hunch. I have a feeling we will be meeting Itachi and Kisame soon."

Thinking of that blue skinned man made the scar on his chest hurt even more, which made him staff three cigarettes in his mouth at once.

"There's something fishy about this country. It's like there is a giant shadow hanging over it."

Luffy sat next to Smoker, and banged the counter countless times, "Water!!"

Usopp did the same, "Barrels of it!! Five barrels!!"

The young sergeant turned over to the side in a worried manner, "You think Crocodile's involved with that crime syndicate?"

"I dunno." Smoker replied as he turned over to look at the Straw Hats.

"This water tastes good!!!"

"Yeah!!" Usopp replied to his captain with a barrel in his mouth, "Let's hurry and take some to the others."